Greatest voices of the Southeastern Conference

1. Larry Munson
Nicknamed "The 12th Man," Munson is an old-style "homer" for Georgia football whose many calls in dramatic moments have become classics. Munson joined the SEC in 1947 at Vanderbilt and then went to Georgia in 1966. His gravely voice is one of the most distinctive around. Munson to his beloved Bulldogs: "Hunker down, you hairy Dogs." Hear Munson make the call

2. Cawood Ledford
The Rupp Arena court is named in honor of Kentucky's late basketball announcer. Ledford was named the nation's top college basketball announcer four times and broadcasted the Final Four on national radio for 18 years. After Duke's thrilling NCAA Tournament victory over Kentucky in 1992, Mike Kryzewski spoke with Ledford first.
From YouTube, "A Tribute to Cawood Ledford"

3. John Ward
When Tennessee's legendary voice said, "It's football time in Tennessee," it was game on. Tennessee touchdowns were rewarded with "Give him six!" With a towel around his neck, Ward was the Vols' voice for 31 years. He spent it all with color commentator Bill Anderson, making them the longest-running broadcast partnership in college football. Hear John Ward make the call.

4. Jack Cristil
Cristil has been Mississippi State's voice since 1953, spanning 10 football coaches, nine school presidents and eight athletics directors. He is the only non-coach/athlete in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. His style is simple and to the point with little hyperbole. Cristil's motto: Tell them who has the ball, what the score is and how much time is left. Video one and two from Raycom Sports tell the story of Cristil's career.

5. John Ferguson
Ferguson, who died in 2005, broadcasted LSU athletics for 41 years and SEC basketball telecasts with Joe Dean Sr. in the late 1960s. LSU football Saturday nights left Ferguson with the national airwaves virtually to himself. Few night games were heard across the country then, and Ferguson could often be picked up on 50,000-watt station WWL-AM.

6. Paul Eells
Routinely referred to as the nicest man in the state of Arkansas, Eells became an iconic figure as the Razorbacks' voice. He was Vanderbilt's voice first before his trademark calls of "Touchdown, Arkansas!" and "Holy Smokes!" endeared him to generations. The state of Arkansas once held a "Paul Eells Day." Eells was killed in a car accident in 2006.

7. Joe Dean Sr.
Dean coined the phrase "string music" and put SEC basketball on the map with his television commentary. He was a color analyst for almost 20 years, working with NBC, TBS, ESPN, TVS and Jefferson-Pilot. A former All-SEC basketball player, Dean could describe the game inside and out. It runs in the family: Son Joe Jr. now calls games.

8. Keith Jackson
"Whoa, Nelly!" Jackson, teamed with former Arkansas coach Frank Broyles from 1977 to 1986, was a recognizable TV voice for SEC football fans on ABC. Jackson's homespun wit and play-by-play accuracy made him a favorite. He called games in a period when ABC televised one national game each Saturday -- often in the SEC.

9. Jim Fyffe
Fyffe spent 22 seasons as the voice of Auburn football and basketball until his death in 2003. His trademark call of "Touchdown, Auburn!" was beloved by Auburn fans, and "See ya later, Bama" was loathed by Tide fans. Fyffe would say "hello" to an Auburn basketball player's hometown after a dunk.

10. John Forney
Forney brought Bear Bryant into people's living rooms during the most dominant era in the history of SEC football. His voice stretched throughout the South because of Alabama's success. Forney, who died in 1997, was a member of Alabama's broadcast team for 30 years, handling play-by-play for 19 years and hosting TV coaches' shows.

11. Tom Hammond
Hammond is the main play-by-play TV announcer for SEC basketball, teaming with Larry Conley. Hammond started doing SEC basketball play-by-play for TVS in 1980 and also works with NBC in a variety of sports. A Kentucky graduate, Hammond was recently nominated as a candidate to join Kentucky's Board of Trustees.

12. Verne Lundquist
To many SEC football fans across the country today, Lundquist is the voice they hear most often. He has been the play-by-play announcer on CBS telecasts since 2000 after a long career in multiple sports. Love him or hate him, Lundquist -- and analyst Gary Danielson -- carries a national platform because of CBS's exclusive deal with the SEC.

13. Lindsey Nelson
Nelson organized a radio network to broadcast Tennessee football games and was the Vols' first announcer. He was a jack-of-all-trades for Tennessee football coach Robert Neyland. Nelson, who died in 1995, was best known for his elegant voice and flashy sport coats while broadcasting Cotton Bowl games, Notre Dame football and New York Mets baseball.

14. Tim Brando
Brando has called SEC basketball games for Raycom Sports for more than a decade. He also works on ACC telecasts and for CBS, and has a national radio show. From 1981 to Ã86, he was the voice of LSU basketball. A versatile announcer, Brando brings a strong voice and excitement to his telecasts.

15. Stan Torgerson
Torgerson was the voice of Ole Miss during its glory days in the 1960s. He spent 17 years calling Rebels basketball games and 15 years doing the same for football. Torgerson, who died in 2006, also worked in television but preferred radio. "I like to watch the game on the radio," he often said. "The pictures are better."